Elder Cameron Summers:

August 18, 2008
Time is seriously a huge blur here! I can't believe I have already been here for almost a month! That is crazy! I am excited to be in Samoa and know the language will be a challenge but I know I will be blessed and the Lord will help me.

We are starting to teach the lessons in Samoan. It is hard but just by trying and speaking will make the language come faster. My companion and I were teaching a sister in my class and my teacher in Samoan. we were teaching the first lesson to them in Samoan. It was only suppose to be ten minutes long and was just to help and give us practice. I had written down what I wanted to say in English and then translated the sentences into Samoan on my notes. After the first couple of sentences of reading off my paper in Samoan, my teacher took away my notes. I didn't know what to say for awhile. Then I just tried spitting out random words relating to the lesson. After a couple of random blurted our Samoan words, I started making sentences. It was cool because I was able to say everything that I wanted to and more. I wasn't confined to what was my paper. I also didn't have my "crutch" to help me. I just had to do it. I could feel the Lord 's help in helping me with what I wanted to say. It was really cool.

C-ya,
Elder Summers

Elder Brantley Shattuck:

August 6, 2008
Being transferred to Brambleton as a ZONE LEADER. New comp is Elder Lieppmann, an awesome missionary who actually got drafted to the A's(major league baseball team(PRO's)) but chose to serve a mission instead. He is from Arizona I think, can't remember the exact place. I am excited but it is going to be hard for me to leave, this is all that I really know and I love the wards here, they have been my favorite I have ever attended in my entire life. The Yanick family is going on a vacation but should be baptised on the 30th of this month if they can quit smoking. Hopefully I will be given the opportunity to come back and see that when it happens, I don't know if I will though... Elder Shattuck

PS: I am getting so fat that I have to go buy a new pair of pants today, not because my waste is bigger but my thighs are huge!!! I gotta lose some weight, I look like a stinkin cowboy in my jeans.

August 13, 2008
This past week has been absolutely crazy. Being a Zone Leader there is a lot of pressure. I have to report all of the key indicators(numbers) to the mission president every Sunday night, my first experience with that was last Sunday and President Wixom called our zone PATHETIC!!! Man, it was kind of harsh but made me laugh too, our mission is really struggling right now and isn't baptising like it should be. My new companion is awesome, we get along really well, he reminds me a lot of Matt Hansen. He his like 6'6", pretty big guy, it's almost like BIG DOG AND LITTLE DOG. We don't have a whole lot going on though here, no real solid investigators or anything, kind of weird considering we had tons of things going on in Warrenton.... I don't really miss the area but I sure do miss having the knowledge of who the ward members are. It is weird not knowing people. Love you. Elder Shattuck

Elder Matt Hansen:

August 4, 2008
Well, things here are going pretty good. Yesterday was a pretty good day at church. We had 11 investigators show up at church so that was pretty good. Now the hard part is just to get them to keep on coming. Everyone is just so unpredictable here and half the time I don't even think they understand what is going on. It's frustrating because you will think someone is interested and then you find out that when you visit them the 2nd time that they just want money. It's annoying. If you are white here it means that you are rich, that's all there is to it. But we also had 2 baptisms yesterday it was a good experience. I got to baptize one of them, his name is Emiri and he is 21 years old. It was an awesome experience, he is a very humble kid. The other person was Joseph, we have been teaching him for about 2 months and he is 39 years old, he is a good guy. So it was a good day yesterday and it has been a pretty good week. The work is still going forward, slowly but surely. Then for next week we have one more planned baptism so hopefully that will work out, we'll see.

Fellow missionary friends (blog):
Hey what's up guys, how is everyone doing? How is the missionary work? From what I have heard it sounds like everyone is doing good. Everyone is still out so that's a good sign, ha. Well, I'm just here in Tanzania and I've been here in the same area for about 7 months now, I'm going on my 5th transfer. Things are good here though, I like it. The members treat us good and we get fed a lot so that's good. The only problem is that I'm getting fat but that's all part of the experience. The work here is pretty slow because there is a big language barrier but its moving forward. We just had two baptisms yesterday so that was pretty exciting. We also have one more planned for next week so hopefully it will all work out. I am trying to learn Swahili but I know very little but that's alright, we can only teach in English so that's why the work is so slow. Well, that's about all that's going on here. I hope that everyone is doing good, keep up the good work, love you all, later.
Elder Matt Hansen

Elder Andrew Pena:

August 4th, 2008
This week was great again!!! So on Wednesday I drove down to Visalia with a member which was really good. It took like 2 hours but it was awesome. I met my new comp who is six four and 260 lbs. and played starting defensive end for Bunknell for two years before he came out on his mission. He is 20 and has been out for 6 months. He is really awesome so it has been great. Our two wards that we are covering here in Visalia are 4th and 6th ward and we are doing a ward fast for the 6th ward and we have a family fasting each day of the month and already we are being blessed in this area! I came in and we went and taught a few people and it went good. We tracted into a less active family, the Jasso family and we went in and taught them. She has 4 boys and 1 girl it was really good. So crazy story... ok so on Thursday Brother Jones comes and picks us up for dinner and we drive over to his home for dinner and we go inside and I immediately look over and see this girl and in my mind go WHAT!!! She looks identical to someone I graduated with!!!! I was freaking out in my mind but I didn't say anything I waited to see if she knew who I was. Anyways the guy she was with asked our names and I said my name and she is like "WHAT YOU GRADUATED FROM REXBURG!" I was like yeah, and it was SOOOO WEIRD but her name is like Elyss Jones. I hope I spelled it right but I had a couple of classes with her in high school and it was just really weird and crazy! Then on Saturday we were tracting and you know everyone is so nice like usual and finally we get to this door and it was actually the father of the person we were supposed to have an appointment with. We start talking and we taught him the entire first lesson on the doorstep and he just agrees with everything we are saying. He just says yeah uh huh yep right, and so we were like this is great!!! So we say we actually have evidence that you can hold in your hands and read it and we say have you heard of the Book of Mormon before? And immediately he runs inside and was like noooo noo no no no and we were like what? He was like, you are Jehovah Witnesses and we say no, we aren't. He just shook his head and walked inside!!! I was so ticked! Man I was like all that for nothing!!! This stinks and I'm getting all ticked off and complaining and saying to my comp "what just happened?" We stayed outside for like 5 minutes to get a drink and went to this last door and we knock and ask for the parents and so the mom comes to the door and she says "yeah I've talked to missionaries before" and she said when she lived in Orange County that missionaries stopped by and set up and appointment and NEVER CAME BACK!!! I was like are ya serious!! So we gave her another Book of Mormon and she said she would love for us to come back and our family is really looking for a religion and so is her husband and her husband is really into his ancestors. So we set up a date so we are going by on Friday and she has four kids!!! She said if she joined a church it would either be ours or he Jehovah Witnesses because we are the only ones that do missionary work that she thought was really cool!!! Haha so its a good thing we got there first!! So I'm excited!! Those are some crazy stories that have been happening!!! So yeah missions are still great! I bore my testimony yesterday it was good! We cover two wards so 4th ward sac starts at 9 and 6th starts at 11 so we are there till about 2 or 3 o'clock and my companion is the district leader again so I'll be learning this area fast again because he goes on exchanges with all the elders in our area! Its good for me to get to know the area quick. My comp also had to go to meeting while I was at church so I had to run an MCM by myself when I have been here for 4 days and I haven't even taught anyone on the MCM progress record so it was rough but also a good experience. The members are great! I love the work. I got two packages this week and some letters so its good and I haven't had time to read all my letters so they are still sitting in the box!!! Haha tell Zach and Ty I miss them too! Eli thanks for wearing my tie!:) I noticed because all the stains on it! :) and I hope all is going well for everyone I miss and love you all talk to you next week!:) Elder Peña

Elder Scott Snell:

July 22, 2008
Hello family,
I sweat a lot but I am drinking a lot of water, don't worry - I think dad drilling it into my head for 19 years it finally sunk in. I now tell everyone else who has something wrong with them to drink more water then I realize I sound like my dad. Which is ok cause he is a pretty great guy. Good catch mom. I am getting better at sitting on the floor Koren style but there is only so much a six foot four missionary can do. Well, this week wasn't the best week of my mission that is for sure. I have had to do a lot more stuff cause my senior companion is -yeah - I love him. I just hope that one of us learns better Korean. Then we met with this lady who I knew for about five minutes and then she proceeded to tell me that I didn't know God that I was a bad missionary and I gave off a bad energy. But it is ok cause she told me not to take it personal cause she didn't even know me! I wanted to yell at her but I decided that I better not so I bore her my testimony really strong and simply told her I was sorry that I couldn't help her and to have a nice day as I walked her out the door. Needless to say, I wasn't very happy but it's ok. I knew where some batting cages were and then my companion bought me ice cream. I know what she said wasn't true but it still hurt. On a better note my recent convert got the priesthood on Sunday and it was really good. Next week he can bless and pass the sacrament.

Chad have fun at Martin's Cove and remember what those people did just so we could have the Gospel in our lives. It was something that changed my life. You will always remember it, I do. I wish I could go back so don't take it for granted. I love you all and remember the gospel is true - if it wasn't - I wouldn't be out here.
Love Elder Snell

August 3, 2008
Hello family,
This week was a little long and rough but I feel a lot better now.
You know it's funny how that happens when you really need it the Lord is always there to help you. This mission thing isn't all fun and games - it's real work, but I think of the pioneers and the early missionaries of the church and I have got it made. I can e-mail my family who loves me every week and I have shoes without giant wholes in them. Oh man I love the fact that the Lord is on my side. This week was kind of rough cause all of our appointments got canceled and we had to proselyte a lot more and that can be trying after a while. But we worked hard and we met some good people and the Lord helped us out. It is funny how he blesses you when you are doing what you are suppose to be doing.

Mom, I finally got your package and they are having this cow meat thing against American beef so when I got my package all it had in it was a pillow case and pictures. They swiped my jerky I was ticked those dirty rats. I've got to go. I miss you all and love you. Tell Ky I love her and take care of her for me, she means a lot to me. And who knows maybe you will be related some day. And no that doesn't mean her and Riley getting married! Love Elder Snell

August 10, 2008
I found out today that Cody Mitchell went home, it kind of hit me hard, because I remember those days that I wanted to go home too but am glad now that I didn't. All I know is that he went home and I have know idea why. I miss that kid and wish that I could talk to him. If you can, somehow let him know that I want a letter or an e-mail from him and I will write him a letter.

It is finally starting to cool off a little bit here but I still sweat like crazy. My companion isn't too bad - he just really likes to talk but not in Korean. I have been in the country 5 months and he has been here for about 14 months but I am the one who is taking the lead cause he doesn't. I am still a junior comp but I do everything that a senior does. It's frustrating sometimes but it is helping me to grow. I love you all and miss you. Remember the Church is true, I wouldn't be out here if it wasn't.
Love Elder Snell

August 17, 2008
Mom don't worry, I am doing fine. You don't have to worry about me, remember, I am tough. I grew up in a house with four brothers who were all stronger then me but smell isn't everything! It was good to hear about Cody, I am really glad he is ok. Missions are hard things, I remember a couple of times I was ready to pack my bags and come home. It sounds like he had it pretty rough. I admire him for doing what he thought was best. That takes a lot of courage especially when you live in rumor ville USA. Man, I miss that kid! Tell him his letter is being written. This week went by pretty fast, it wasn't too bad. We had three investigators out to church this week and some really good lessons. My companion still does not stop talking but I am learning the value of patience. My English is getting pretty bad. Transfers are coming up in the next couple of weeks so it's not too bad. On a good note we have Elder Bednar coming to the mission to talk to us this week. I am really excited and it should be good. I finally get to go play some basketball today so I am looking forward to that. I am a little worried though cause my shorts are a little tight. I am getting a little chunky, maybe I will start doing some sit ups. I love you all and miss you thanks for everything. I miss you and will keep working hard.
Love Elder Snell

Elder Adam Walker:

Hey family!
I am doing laundry right now. This is the first week we have had to pay for it. Ha. $2.00 just to wash your cloths. And then like another dollar to Dry - Oh well I guess it could be worse right?
This week has been really interesting. Jerry Oldaker, the guy I told you about living the middle of no where, he is an alcoholic, so I guess that is why he never remembers much of what we say. Ha We are working with him though. Our biggest problem is that he thinks his kidneys are shutting down when he doesn't drink. So in his mind he is completely brain washed and we figure since he is addicted, the kidney syndrome is really just him going through withdrawals. He says he can't drink water because it tastes like chlorine (ukey water) I told him to buy bottled water instead of beer. He told me he couldn't afford it so I made a deal with him. I bought him a case of water and Told him how much it was. (It was $2.50 for 12 bottles) compared the price of the beer. The Beer he likes to drink costs about 18.00 for 30 cans (which lasts him 4 days might I add) If you do the math, water costs about .20 a bottle and a can of beer is about .60-.65 a can. so we took him the water and we will have to see what happens now. This guy gets better and better every time we see him.
The other great experience we had this week was with a guy named Jack Chandler. He is a Native American. We were tracting one day and we knocked on this guys door. The first thing he said was come on in and we can just talk BUT there is no way you are going to convert me. Well we talked to him about random stuff for about 2 hours and then we pretty much just said good-Bye. Well about a week later (last Saturday) we decided to go back to this guy and see how he was doing because everyone we had appointments with that day cancelled for 'some reason' so we knocked on Jacks door, he lets us in and we talk about random stuff for about 2 hours again. But then King Lamoni's story in Alma pops into a couple missionaries heads! Jack was talking about how he believes in the great spirit and everything so here was our chance. We tell him a little bit about that story and then pretty much tell him that this book (The Book of Mormon) is a record of his ancestors. Then he asked how the book came about. We told him. and well needless to say his is now an investigator in the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. We got him a little interested and we invited him to read the book. He of course said he would. As we were walking out, he told us he doesn't know why he let us in the door that day that we knocked on his door. He said he had turned down many missionaries of every faith (including ours) multiple amounts of times. But he said he was glad he let us in. He told us there were no guarantees right then if he would believe it and be baptised, but he said he would give it a shot. We went back again to his house yesterday to see how he was doing and everything. And when we asked him how much he had read, he was done with first Nephi and he loves it. He was in a hurry to go pick up his wife from work but told us to come back anytime. That we are welcome at his home any day of the week. The stories are just a few of the many things that have been happening. But it just goes to show how God works. Those appointments that cancelled, were people who were not yet ready to hear what we had to say. But as for Jack, he was ready and God knew it. They were cancelled so we could make it to Jack. Small little miracles happen every day here. We started teaching a lady today who has cancer, shes catholic, but wanted us to come and talk to her about our beliefs. And pretty much, why should I join your church? leading up to our appointment with her, we were teaching someone else and we went over our time by about 20 minutes so we were going to be pretty late to this lady's house. Well right when we pulled into her house we don't see a car. So we thought she might not be home. But right when we were getting out of our car to go see if she was there, she pulled in. She had been up in Morgan town (about an hour away) and she didn't get on the road fast enough. Satin is working hard and he doesn't want us to teach anything we have to say. But the best part is that Gods hand is on this work and it will continue onward. It has been awesome to be here. Who every doesn't go on a mission is foolish and they are shooting themselves in the foot. I have grown quite a bit in the last 3 weeks. But the greatest part about being out here other than spreading the gospel is having my testimony grow each day. We really do take what we know for granted. I know, I did, these experiences have already opened my eyes to see how many people are missing this block in their life. I'm doing awesome and don't worry one ounce about me because I am doing better then ever. Sure I miss home, there's no doubt about that. But I love where I'm at and I know this is where I'm supposed to be. Love you all, Elder Adam Layne Walker

August 12, 2008
Well I am staying here in Elkins, West Virginia and I am getting a new companion and you will never guess where he is from! yup, you guessed it, Rexburg Idaho! his name is Elder Dallas Smith and I knew him in high school, he is an awesome kid so that will be really fun to serve with him, I am going to Charleston tomorrow for transfer meeting and I will pick him up there. So that will be awesome. This week has gone really fast, and the reason I am writing you today is because of transfers tomorrow. We won't have time so we are supposed to write today I guess and even today we don't have much time. My address is staying the same and I'm getting a new companion so that's really the news this week. I sent my story of the week in a letter home to Tenisha, that was a really neat experience with that guy named Mike. As for Jerry, well we had to drop him because he was not willing to work with us and he never kept commitments that we gave him. But we do have a baptism next week, her name is Justine Shaffer and she has 4 kids (1 on the way) I think I told you about her, but yeah she is getting baptised and then the week after that we have another baptism her name is Cassie Polland and she is 9 years old. Both awesome people and they will be my first baptisms. I'm pretty lucky to have 2 already, most people don't get that many over their whole mission so hopefully many more will come. Don't have much time, but love you all and hope all is well there in Idaho, cause it's awesome here! minus the fact that I can't go water skiing. haha. Love you all, Elder Walker